Exploitation of the Elderly: 20 Years in Prison

Today Ryan Todd Powers, 41, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for four counts of Exploiting an Elderly or Disabled Person. A quitclaim deed on the house he deeded to himself was also cancelled so the victim has their home back.

Powers became the power of attorney for the victim and her husband in August 2015. After obtaining power of attorney he opened a fraudulent checking account in her name without her knowledge or approval and had her monthly social security checks redirected into the new account.

From October of 2015 to July of 2016, he proceeded to use this account, along with her husband’s account for his own personal use, while refusing to pay for the victim and her husband’s care. While the victim was in a healthcare facility, she had no belongings and had to have clothes donated to her. The victims had several assets which Powers sold, and in November of 2016, he used the power of attorney to deed the victim’s home to himself. Power’s actions resulted in a loss of a total amount exceeding $50,000.00.

Assistant State Attorneys Jennifer Royal and J.D. Miller of our Economic Crimes Unit handled the case.